Housing / Squatting

from email, 18 November 2007: "The Where Will It Be Collective (WWIB) announce the opening of a social centre in a squatted building in Norwich city centre. Come and visit! Here's the press release..." more

report from email, 10 December 2007: "Police arrested 60 activists at random in a chaotic night for the Berlin police. the demo, 1000 strong was somewhat delayed by the huge police presence and was at a quick pace before the police surrounded the demo claiming that bottles and paint bombs were thrown at them..."

from squatters, 17 November 2007: "If we are not to be forced to live as prisoners of war in the barracks of capital, then we must pay attention to our common struggle and fight as one - wherever we are..." more

from email, 16 November 2007: A meeting to discuss the future of the Basement, Manchester's radical bookshop and social centre. The Basement has been shut for the last few months following a fire on Lever street. This meeting will dicuss what should happen next, and be a chance for anyone, from old volunteers, to those who've heard about it, to share ideas, offer support, and socialise! more

11 November 2007: Recent call for solidarity for the Koepi squat in Berlin against the planned eviction. "A broad campaign neither signifies "legal public pandering” nor militant "mindless violence" - a successful campaign for the Köpi must incorporate legal political influence and direct militant intervention together. And it must have continuity-the recent successes in Copenhagen prove that a long breath can pay off!" more

8 November 2007: "On November 22nd the City of Helsinki is going to make a decision if they will legalize our squat. It is likely that the decision is going to be negative, but our struggle can change that ... We appeal to all of our friends across Europe to act in our support ... find an embassy of Finland close to you, arrange a demo ... now is the moment we need your support. Helsinki demonstration November 22nd : you are totally welcome to come here to support us. We have accommodation for you here. We are not giving up! more

from email, 22 October 2007: After seven years of actions and a summer of non-stop squatting the radical movement in Helsinki managed for the first time to secure a social centre of it's own in August 2007.

The old restaurant building has been perfect for hosting revolution – with peoples kitchens, gigs, discussions, knitting, movies and other activities taking place everyday. Now Helsinki council has found numerous health and construction problems with the house in order to stop the squatters legally occupying the space.  more

from imc-uk, 18.10.2007: Report on Thursday 18th Octobers eviction of Common Ground Community Garden. It seems it was “fourth time lucky” for Reading Borough Council bailiffs today, when they finally realised that it’s not a good idea to inform anarcho-commies (and other assorted revolutionary reprobates) 2 weeks in advance if you want to evict them from council land. Arriving unannounced at 9.00am this morning, they began by evicting our squatting neighbours, giving us enough time to form an impromptu resistance of 3 people. more

Offering something of a break in tradition, the noborders / rampART benefit party after the anarchist book fair is an alternative to hanging out in the pub.

Open from 6pm it's a chance to hang out with friends while supporting grassroots campaigns and a rare opportunity to listen to conscious hip-hop and rap with acts from the USA, Greece, Scarborough, Manchester, Bristol and London.

Suggested donation £5. @ Rampart Social Centre 15 Rampart Street E1 2LA more

Submitted on 22/09/2007: Abahlali baseMjondolo to March on Obed Mlaba for Land & Housing in the City on 28 September 2007: We will march on Mayor Obed Mlaba on Friday 28 September 2007. We will leave from the Kennedy Road settlement at 9:00 a.m. and will, once again, march to Cllr. Yakoob Baig’s offices at the corner of Sparks Road and Randles Road where Mayor Mlaba has been asked to meet us. more

Submitted on 17/09/2007: Since the launch in 2004 of N2 Gateway, Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu's pet 'flagship' project has run into problem after problem: delayed delivery, cost over-runs, above all lack of consultation. In their 2004-5 report the Development Action Group, an NGO, wrote "The top-down approach in the N2 project undermines its overall sustainability. The casual, continued and increasing practice of excluding people from decision-making about development processes that directly affect their lives is an obstacle that communities are unlikely to tolerate for much longer." more

from email, 30 Aug 2007: Camberwell Squatted Centre was unexpectedly evicted this morning by the police and high court bailiffs. The building had been occupied since March 2007 and was planning a busy weekend of events including a soca night, a bike wheel making workshop and a vegan cake day. more

from email, 28 August: Repression against radicals in Osaka! Amid a climate of repeated evictions and targeted arrests, a well-known activist of the squatter movement in Japan was arrested before a protest against the World Championship of Athletics which is not only a protest of the event for evicting 20 squatters from one of the biggest parks in Osaka, but also a protest against the emperor's increased political importance in Japan. This pre-emptive arrest is an unusually repressive step and deserves attention. Please forward widely! more

Aug 15 2007: 2nd Eviction Attempt Resisted, Injunction Broken Again, New Gardens on the Horizon! Common Ground - a squatted community garden in Katesgrove, Reading - is still being enjoyed by the community and still growing, despite a 2nd attempt by the council to close the garden down and evict the gardeners.  more

Updated 22 August 2007: The Camberwell Squatted Centre is still open, with events planned throughout August. As they say:

"There’s no point just consuming this space, make it happen. Every mini-gig or party, meeting or workshop that happens is a dance of defiance to the profiteering scum that boss this world..."  more